Be Wooed by San Sebastian

12/10/202212/10/2022

San Sebastian in the Basque Region of Spain is a safe, beautiful part of the world. Renown for its gastronomic experiences, scalloped around a beautiful bay, there is something to find all year round.

Whilst there are many options travellers often become overwhelmed and may miss the beauty and random joyful moments substituting it for stress.

This guide is to remove that stress so you can focus on the day and making this day, this destination on of the best in your lifetime.

This is a suggestion and any order can apply but understand, exercise is often better in the morning (then it is done). Food and wine feels less like a guilty pleasure when exercise has been done.

It is fun to wander around with no commitments and explore.

This is not to steal the serendipitous moments but to give you a fall back plan and one that will make you look in control not lost.

Walk to the Castle

You can see the castle here on top of the hill.

On the hill behind the old town is the Castle. Also known as Castillo of La Mota.

It is on top of the hill surrounded by a big park (Parque de Urgull).

The walk up can be dramatic and step (there are stairs leaving from behind the old town near the boat harbour, or gradual if you follow the boat harbour round past the aquarium and head up.

Just follow your nose – heading up is the main goal and you will find many little tracks.

There is a secret bar that is open in Summer.

Once up the top you will have amazing views of San Sebastian and the surrounding hills.

Alternative options to climbing the hill

These are some other walking options that are more flat terrain for those with injuries or unable to climb a hill.

If climbing is too tricky there are many walks around San Sebastian.

You can head to the left of the bay towards the south and find the amazing art sculptures of Spanish Artist Eduardo Chillida called Peine del Viento. Also a romantic beautiful spot.

Or you can walk around the Parque to Urgull and head over to Zurriola beach and head back along the river with the trees and shade.

2. Pinxos in the Old Part of Town

This gastronomic delight should be on every foodies global tour.

Apparently San Sebastian has more michelin awarded restaurants than anywhere else in the world – but I think their pinxos are the stand out.

There are two famous cheese cake shops here.

Saint Telmos is my favourite has the best foie gras, blood pudding and iberian pork cheeks and grilled octapus.

Tintos (red wines) are awesome everywhere.

3. La Perla

This day spa (thermalogica) water treatment retreat is fantastic.

Right on the beach at Playa De La Concha, this magnificent building has great views from the far infared chairs. If you go between 130 – 4pm you can get a reduced rate for the two hours.

You can hire a towel and everyone has to wear the sexy blue cap.

Hot steam room, hot sauna, multiple spa pools, relaxation zones and a cold plunge pool. Definitely worth it if you like water and day spas. No need for bookings unless during busy season. Click here for more information.

4. Santa Maria Cathedral

This iconic landmark is found in the old city.

It is 3 euros to pass through but worth it if this is the only church you are going to. There is another up near Saint Telmo which is equally breathtaking and of a different era.

5. Ferry trip

For a small fee (7 euros when we went) you can jump on the ferry and go to La Concha. Here you can disembark for exploring, or in summer swimming and a drink at the bar.

Otherwise you can stay on the ferry and do the round trip.

It’s a great way to get a different aspect from the water.

Other activities

There are so many sporting activities to do. Stand Up Paddling, swimming, sailing, bush walking, bike riding and more.

Simply walking along the promenade later in the day is wonderful as buskers line the wide pavement entertaining children and tourists. Grab an icecream and slowly meander long.

There is an art gallery, library with an exhibition hall beneath it, museum, aquarium and more.

It is the perfect place for a weekend or a week. Relax, drift and enjoy.

Potager, Carool NSW

12/01/202113/01/2021

Potager is a delightful surprise hidden beyond the country suburb of Bilambil south of the Gold Coast.

Established in 2006 by Pete and Gareth with a grand vision to grow and source local food – served with exuberant intent. They nailed it!

Fast track to now and the vision lives on and is evident in every dish made and served. It’s a special part of the dream and the intent is certainly evident in the attention to detail, amazing menu and a relaxing venue.

Unfortunately one of the partners passed away in 2019 but everyone is happy and committed in his spirit.

On our visit we are met by a beautiful rustic home set amongst an enlivened field with a seductive edible garden.

The staff are all very competent and eager to say hello. The ethos of the restaurant/community is to support local including the staff.

The views over the valley are delightful and the wine list substantial.

We are with a few friends and cocktails are ordered.

For entree we share the fair game, wild venison carpaccio, pickled plum, mushroom, tarragon pesto, lemon myrtle cracker.

Wild venison carpaccio with pickled plum

My main course didn’t sound that much on the menu but was delicious with lots of subtle and Peruvian sudado de pescado(fish stew). Whilst the menu changes depending on what is in season and available the stew is always available. I will be going back for the fish stew for sure. Warming, nourishing and flavours full of the depth of the sea.

It is one of the dishes designed and kept as a tribute. I really rate the fish stew but would go so far as to recommend everything on the menu. My friends have the duck which melts in your mouth whilst my partner has local caught fish which was so well cooked.

What I love most about Potager is the local grown vegetables used with every dish. It is like a blessing from the planet to your plate.

Thank you so much guys, we will be back again soon,

Nusa Lembogan

01/05/2018

Finally I have had to resign myself to the fact that today I can only squeeze in a massage and snorkel at most.

As Western though patterns and chasing leaving my body, so does stress.

I feel myself decompressing like a tension chamber that has become unaccustomed to it’s own internal pressure – in actual fact using it for fuel to chase down more business. I need to step back and I have.

Yesterday I jumped on a plane to Bali with a small back pack, some face masks to deliver to Solemen ( A charity I support here) and little else. I had a sense that escaping to Nusa Lembogan would provide me with my next life lessons, poignant and gentle as Mother Bali delivers, so headed for Sanur to catch a ferry.

There are plenty of ferry companies that cross the 45 minute stretch all day. No need to book ahead and it shouldn’t cost more than 400 rupiah return.

I had to wait a while for mine, but I have learned that the waiting is part of Bali unravelling you from what you know, to where you need to be.

I relish in the wait.

With no accommodation booked, I figure that I could do something about it while the ferry is coming. Incredibly I secure a room in a hut that is truly magic and I feel so incredibly grateful to have been directed here.

A generous local drove me to the villas and would not accept any money for the trip. It sounds naive but I know the favour will be returned one day.

My digs for the night are out of this world – incredible views, and I feel I have arrived at the cusp of heaven and earth.

I settle in, have some mandatory spring rolls, a gin and tonic then go exploring.

It is a full moon and the night light makes for easy walking to Dream Bay.

Today i will explore more and post more tomorrow.

My creative flow is back and I feel alive again. Thank you Mother Bali.

P & O Cocktail mix classes

01/07/201703/07/2017

On board drinking experiences are they worth it?

If you like a wine or cocktail I think the tasting experiences are a must.

On the cruise I am doing there are a few days at sea which means forced rest and recouperation. I take this part of my life very seriously and aside from writing travel blogs, dipping in and out of the spa, I will always sign up for a few drinking experiences.

The wine tasting one is fantastic.

Wine tasting course on board the P & O Dawn Princes

So often in life I feel wine is drunk not enjoyed. The wine tasting enables you to thoroughly enjoy the true experience of wine – the joi de vie, the elixir of the Gods. I love wine so slowing down to have some one walk me through each quality and aspect of the wine, the colour, the aroma, the palette and to tell me the story about the wine maker and his intent on creating the wine is like attending a liquid art gallery.

The ship often shares one or two high end bottles which are beautiful to enjoy. I highly rate the wine tasting, the random people you meet at your table and the funny staff.

A different liquid experience and equally as fun is the cocktail mixing hour. For a modest sum you can make 4 delicious cocktails , have some fun and consume them all!

I found it very enlightening and learned that you can infuse your own vodkas with anything from chillis, to fruit to chocolate eclairs! I also discovered that many cocktails made behind the bar include sugar syrup and explained many so called “hangovers” that hadn’t made sense in the past – now I know they were sugar crashes.

We made an expresso martini, a humming bird, a caprioska and a chocolate one….

Book your cruise here.

L’osteria Campo De Fiori

01/07/2017

I am wooed into the this restaurant perched on the corner of Piazza Campo De Fiori by Zac.

Located on the edge of Campo de Fiori there is plenty to watch and day dream at.

There are a steady stream of restaurant guests, coming, refuelling and marching back into the hustle and bustle of central Roma.

There is a really great vibe around these markets. They are more a tourist market but serving a lot of fresh food produce, flowers and wines.

The piazza is very typical of Roman courtyards. The action is in the middle, with a circumference of shops, typically cucinas and restaurants.

The cobble stoned pavement gives an uneven edge that reminds you with each step of the hundreds of years of people walking the same steps as you. I love it. Tactile and real.

I chose to sit for awhile, film the chefs out the back and paint.

The guys in the kitchen are awesome and treat me to the insider passions of an Italian restaurant.

Even better they make me a dish that isn’t on the menu.

It is a seafood extravaganza, including a whole fish which is served to my table sealed in foil. The pasta, being central Roma, is amazing and melts in my mouth.

I have a wonderful couple of hours at this restaurant. The location is good, the pricing similar to anywhere else in central room and the seafood delicious.

Musee de l’ oceanigraphy and Palace Monaco

06/01/201725/01/2017

There are a few touristy things to do in Monaco.

Many of them a “must when in Monaco”.

I highly recommend the On and Off Bus with the audio and a trip to the palace and Musee de l’ oceanigraphy.

The bus gives you a good lay out of the land, and takes you to key points.

The audio (in many different languages explains the history of the Monagese, the Monach, the grand prix and takes you to heaps of fun venues.

I have been to Monte Carlo a few times but this is the first time to the Musee l’ Oceanigraphy. You know thinking I had seen all the aquariums in the world!

This was amazing.

Patting sharks.

Incredible coral reef fish.

A turtle called Rani.

The jelly fish display is wonderful.

You can visit the Musee and Palace by foot by simply walking up the hill, or stopping off on the on and off bus.

I love the walk up to the palace, it weaves along the dramatic coast line and brings you closer to the wonderful area that it really is.

Today I am keen to do one thing – give Prince Albert one of my paintings, but visiting the musee and palace become a wonderful distraction and experience.

The Palace (home of the Grimaldis) is a world famous landmark. For over 500 years the family have lived in the castle which is also a palace. You can take a tour through the palace and see where Louis the King lived and how they experienced life. I was quite overwhelmed with the grandeuse of the palace, the gifts other countries had given to the family over the years and the fact it is still functional today.

Still used for entertaining and formal ocassions you walk along the marble tiles where many world dignaturies have walked, brushing along the curtains as they do. It brings home to me that we are all one species, one people.

I am informed to contact the soldiers, to pass my modest gift to Prince Albert. They take me to his body guards who sign me in and then graciously take me gift. The assure me that Princes Charlene and Prince Albert will receive my paintings and note. A note that read simply as a piece of gratitude. Monaco is one of the safest places in the world, with CCTV on every corner, the whole town is under surveillance. As a women, I appreciate the safety it offers.

After visiting the palace I wander to the Oceanicgeographic not really expecting much to be honest. I few weeks ago I had been to Seaworld on the Gold Coast, which is somewhere I have been going to for years with the kids. Seaworld has a wonderful aquarium and interactive pools with animals that I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be impressed. Well, I didn’t have any expectations. I was blown away!

Turn out the musee is very interactive – you can pat sharks, get close to large tanks and the jelly fish display is surreal.

I discovered many fish I had never seen before, was excited by the jelly fish display and got to talk with Rani the turtle (yes I talk with turtles)!.

It is a wonderful aquarium and museum and I think any visit to Monaco, especially if you have 2 days should include a visit.

And to my painting for Prince Albert – I am waiting an email from him, saying he has received it. I would dearly love to draw the royal family, or draw one of their favorite scenes and have it hung in Monte Carlo. Or maybe i will be their naturopath if not artist.

The Duke Hobart

06/01/201706/01/2017

When we grew up in Hobart, The Duke of Wellington, now known as “The Duke” was a funky drinking hole. I believe it still is but today I decided to try out their counter meals.

The hotel has a welcoming vibe, great art on the walls and a fire side for winter. I really like it.

Built in 1846, the interior still displays the old sandstone bricks and grand arch ways. Long wooden beams help bring the old rustic design to be compatible with a modern hotel style.

The menu is great.

Not over worked, not hundreds of choices, just something in each area.

I have the Scottsdale Pork Belly, which is slow cooked with a delicious glaze (chocolate maple glaze). It is served with four Tasmanian scallops nestled in pumpkin mash and Artichoke puree. The dish works really well and is a perfect lunch before we head to the cinema just down the road.

Accompanying my yummy meal is a Tassie pinot grigio, Devil’s Corner.

My son has a wood fired cooked pizza we he said was amazing – and judging by the pace that he hoovered it in, I imagine it was amazing.

5/5 stars for a pub countermeal/hotel style meal.

The Yard Nobby’s Beach

09/05/2016

Watching this little alcove evolve over the years has been fascinating.

Only high quality, substance businesses seem to open in this venue.

The Yard Cafe is the same. Low key, high quality and a little bit different.

It has made it’s stamp mark on the cafe scene and soon, Friday TGIF drink will be on it’s list of successes.

I turn up looking for a filling breakfast that isn’t based on eggs and toast. Many places I have been eating at lately offer a breakfast menu 80% toast and eggs. This was much better.

A menu with multiple options to go non dairy or gluten free. Eggs on offer but not all they do.

Tuna nicoise at The Yard Nobby's — Tuna nicoise at The Yard Nobby’s

I chose the tuna nicoise and it was perfect. A perfect way to kick start the day.

The coffee is good, the staff super friendly and the atmosphere cool and laid back. You can were thongs and sarong or dress it up a little at night. I like this place!

Danny’s best priced buffet Coolangatta Tweed

25/04/2016

Not being a big fan of buffets, I went to Danny’s Family Buffet as surprise for the children and with no real expectation.

I was pleasantly surprised!

Tweek cooly golf course — Roses on the Golf Course at Tweed-Cooly

A family run business this restaurant is a land mark on the Cooly-Tweed boundary. Located inside the club house at Tweed Heads the open aired restaurant doesn’t try to be a five star buffet but definitely dominates the four star territory.

A great variety of foods are available and you can cook have your own fillet of fish cooked for you upon request. We had the choice between bass, flat head or calamari. Roasts, hot meats, chinese favourites, about fifteen different salads and more. The best for me was actually eating gluten and dairy, which I hadn’t done for a very long time.

Danny's Buffet — yummy chinese at Danny’s Buffet Restaurant

My favourite dish was actually the plump home made spring rolls. Juicy on the inside, crunchy on the outside and loads of filling. They were the best spring rolls I have had in years.

All the other traditional Chinese favorites featured such as sesame prawn toast, dim sims and chicken and egg soup. All delicious.

The kids had a ball – I switched off my strict mummy hat and let them feast for the last time on their school holidays. Approximately seven plates along each – I was wondering how they physically don’t pop.

The prices are crazy cheap for what you get. Check the pricing out here.

P & O Cruising – do we mention the food?

12/01/201612/01/2016

Timidly I set off on my first P & O Cruise with my two youngest kids.

I had been on a cruise in the Mediterranean years ago but that was different. That was just me, heaps of new exciting places and no kids.

Catching rainbows in my cocktail Port Vila

P & O had not only my kids on board, but hundreds of other children (and their parents). I was worried.

The lining up like sardines and processing on mass wasn’t too bad. I am not good with being herded as my natural instinct is to do the opposite but I found things moved reasonably well and before I knew it we were being ushered past the first of our many “photo opportunities”.

The weather forecast was disgusting and when on board the captain very quickly brought everyone up to speed. “It was some of the roughest seas he had ever seen…” ” get sea sick tablets, go to bed early” and “hang on to the walls when you walk“. Fabulous. Nothing like a BIG fat storm to get everyone sea worthy.

I ushered the lambs to bed very early but stayed up myself to watch Steddy Eddy – a long standing comedian, who I had wanted to see for years. He was hysterical and helped sleep come so much easier.

But I did wake multiple times thinking the massive ocean liner was going to capsize. Whoosh this way, whoosh, creak that way. I have no idea how it didn’t roll over. Anyway it didn’t , the lambs slept, and fortunately day light came soon enough.

The kids were stocked. I was letting them eat all sorts of things we don’t eat on shore. Things like bread (we have a mostly gluten free house hold), cereal, ice cream, deserts, and on it went for the kids like some fantasy camp.

Massive fresh seafood platter in Vanuatu, Port Vila

I tried to enforce the 3 vegetable thing with every meal but decided as long as they ate with me at the a la carte restaurant once a day and not buffet central, they wouldn’t become too nutrient deprived over the week.

The Sunsets in New Calendonia are amazing P & O cruise — The sunsets in New Calendonia are amazing

I had mixed feelings about the cruise.

I was disappointed to see the way people panic around food. Panic and pant… that was the general line up at the buffet. The foodie in me cringed at the human behaviour. BUT the food was actually a really high standard and really varied. It was good.

The A La Carte restaurant was excellent. I ate there every breakfast and had my all time favourite, black pudding. I ate most of my dinners in a La Carte, chilled in the adult-only zone and saw shows, comedians and even art auctions!

Relaxing and drawing in Port Vila P & O Cruising

It’s hard to believe in hind sight that the cruise was only 7 nights. Really great holiday as far as low-maintenance parenting goes. High value for the kids, and heap of fun and relaxing activities for the grown-ups. We will be doing another cruise soon. Maybe another liner – like carnival?